Public Perceptions of Mangrove Forests Matter for Their Conservation

Background

The historical perception of mangroves is overwhelmingly negative, largely due to their smell and creation of habitats for dangerous animals and disease-carrying insects. These sentiments contributed to the mass clearing of mangrove forests for agriculture, aquaculture, and coastal development, putting mangrove ecosystems and their biodiversity at risk. Mangrove forests’ current public image is still hindered by these historically negative views, with mangroves receiving less attention on social media despite experiencing similar levels of ecosystem loss and degradation to more appreciated ecosystems, such as coral reefs and tropical rainforests. Even positive commentary on mangrove forests that advocates for their conservation often begins with negative comments about their smell, unproductiveness, and unattractiveness. The authors argue that the perpetuation of negative commentary is hurting support for mangrove forest conservation.

Goals and Methods

The authors share their expertise and recommendations by representing a variety of stakeholders involved in the research and communication of mangrove forests through academia, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations involved in conservation.

Conclusions and Takeaways

The authors describe how future communication and media about mangrove forests should focus on the ecosystem services (e.g., shoreline protection, fisheries, and carbon capture and storage) and biodiversity that mangroves provide to create a positive perception of mangroves and similar estuarine environments. They argue that showcasing the benefits of mangroves through social media and documentaries sustains positive perceptions and encourages broader support for their conservation. The growing trend of mangrove ecotourism and policy initiatives promoting mangrove protection reflects this global shift in public and stakeholder attitudes. Therefore, adjusting the language in research and conservation advocacy to match this positive shift in mangrove forest perceptions can avoid undermining and undervaluing the importance of mangrove conservation. The authors recommend communication that emphasizes the fragility and beauty of mangrove forests and highlights how a loss of mangroves is a loss to both science and society. They also encourage the use of high-quality images of charismatic species that can act as ambassadors to raise public awareness and strengthen conservation efforts.